What to Watch For on Day 3 at U.S. Nationals: Phelps Races Again, Whitaker a 400 IM Scratch

The Info You Need to Follow Day 3 of the 2014 U.S. National Championships

Day 3 Scratches

There were a handful of pre-session scratches for Friday’s preliminary session at the 2014 U.S. National Championships, but only one of them was really any kind of a surprise. Michigan post-grad Kyle Whitaker scratched out of the men’s 400 IM – an event where we had him pegged to final. Whitaker was set to be the 12th seed in that race, and any kind of a lifetime best (for which he is long overdue) would have put him in the top 8.

Cal’s Rachel Bootsma, who has been primarily a long course backstroker throughout her career but as a collegian has been equally as impressive in the butterfly events, scratched out of the 100 fly. She would have been the 13th seed, but the span of seeds from 4th-19th was less than a second, so there will be a lot of movement there.

The other scratches from high seeds include Katie Ledecky dropping out of the women’s 400 IM, leaving her with a ‘free day’ on Friday; Nick Silverthorn dropping the men’s 50 breaststroke; and Ryan Harty dropping the men’s 50 backstroke.

Kendyl Stewart also scratched the women’s 50 backstroke. She showed off her speed by winning the 50 fly on Thursday and stamping a likely ticket to Worlds in 2015, but her Friday focus will be the 100 fly rather than the 50 back and a shot at Pan Pacs. Stewart is the 2nd seed in that 100 fly.

Races to Watch For on Friday Morning

Day three of the US National Championships in Irvine, California features the 400 IM, the 100 Butterfly, 50 Breaststroke, and the 50 Backstroke.

Today should be Elizabeth Beisel’s day of redemption after an unfortunate slip in the finals of the women’s 200 backstroke last night. She was the top seed after prelims yesterday morning. She has looked great all season, even posting a top 10 time in the world this year in this event. Maya DiRado is another swimmers to watch out for, as she is on the border for a Pan Pacs roster spot after finishing fourth in the 200 butterfly on day 1.

The men’s 400 IM should be a great race between Conor Dwyer, Chase Kalisz, Michael Weiss, Tyler Clary, and Andrew Seliskar. Dwyer, Weiss, and Clary are already on the Pan Pacs roster from previous events, so Kalisz and Seliskar have the most to prove. Kalisz is the favorite to win this event, but watch out for Andrew Seliskar. Seliskar looked really good in his 200 butterfly and that makes him a huge threat today in the 400 IM. The challenge is that Kalisz, Weiss, and Clary have also been phenomenal. No Phelps and no Lochte? No problem – the men’s 400 IM should still be one of the highlights of the meet.

Michael Phelps will have to challenge the 200 fly national champion, Tom Shields, in the 100 butterfly today. Ryan Lochte is also in this event, and he has been swimming well. He finished second in the 100 freestyle, beating Phelps in that race. Phelps missed his wall during that race, so you know he has to be excited about racing Lochte again today.

In the 50 breaststrokes, Jessica Hardy and Kevin Steel won this last year. Hardy will be the favorite to win tonight, but the men’s race is up for grabs. Kevin Cordes is the favorite to win, but his teammate did sneak in to touch him out last year. He has been very inconsistent this season, so I wouldn’t be that surprised if someone does get close to him today.

In the 50 backstroke, Megan Romano will take on the Cal girls. Romano has been off her game this week, but hopefully a sprint is better suited for her today.  Liz Pelton and Rachel Bootsma will be in that race at the touch, as well as a few new young faces.

In the 50 backstroke, Eugene Godsoe will be challenging Ryan Murphy for a trip to the 2015 World Championships. Murphy has already booked his trip to the Gold Coast, while Godsoe missed qualifying last night in the 50 butterfly.

In This Story

38
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

38 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
We Love Phelps
9 years ago

and BOOOO to the “idiot” who keeps thumb downing everyone’s posts here

We Love Phelps
9 years ago

up next… w-100fly

ERVINFORTHEWIN
9 years ago

Very good time to Clary ! Kalisz in the water now …….

ERVINFORTHEWIN
9 years ago

Come on Kalisz and Weiss fot eh 400 IM ! 2 last heats to wait

Danjohnrob
Reply to  ERVINFORTHEWIN
9 years ago

And Seliskar?

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  Danjohnrob
9 years ago

Seliskar too ! are u happy now ?

Danjohnrob
Reply to  ERVINFORTHEWIN
9 years ago

🙂

ERVINFORTHEWIN
9 years ago

One thing is for sure : Shields knows now what he can do in LCM ! can’t wait to see his battle with Michael and Ryan !

bobo gigi
9 years ago

And talking about Michael Phelps, as a huge fan of him since 2001, it feels strange to say he isn’t the favorite to win the 100 fly tonight anymore.
Tom Shields can swim 50.39 in my opinion.

hswimmer
Reply to  bobo gigi
9 years ago

I predict that his record will be broken before 2016, if not before then, during the Olympics.

We Love Phelps
Reply to  bobo gigi
9 years ago

aw, it “breaks my heart” to hear these words from a true Phelps fan 🙁 LOL
and the man’s still not swimming his prelim yet guys

Sven
Reply to  bobo gigi
9 years ago

Phelps won’t lose tonight. Shields looks good, but he won’t drop his best time by over a second. Phelps 50.8, Shields 51.1

Danjohnrob
Reply to  bobo gigi
9 years ago

I bet you’re smiling now, Bobo! I just realized that (so far) Phelps is the only male US swimmer ranked #1 in an event fot LC 2014! We need a swimmer like him to lead the team, because he can turn a meet that’s not going well golden with his ability to focus and confidence!

bobo gigi
9 years ago

“Michael Phelps swimming his new specialty the 100 fly”
New?
He’s just 3-time olympic champion, 3-time world champion, 2-time silver world medalist and world record holder in that event.

TheTroubleWithX
9 years ago

Seliskar was looking a little shaky at first, but came back with PR’s in the 200 free and 50 fly last night, so hopefully he’s good to go. He’s also slated to swim the 100 fly. I wonder if he’ll scratch that if he makes the A-final in the 400 IM. Gunnar Bentz should be in the mix as well.

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

Read More »